“And Abraham said to God, ‘If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!’” (Genesis 17:18, NIV).

An international speaker, John L. Mason, wrote a book that is a best-seller titled “An Enemy Called Average.” On the cover page of the book, he said, “Don’t settle For An Average Life – God Wants To Launch You Past The Middle To The Top.” The final words of the author of the book in part are, “Be the whole person God called you to be. Don’t settle for anything less.”

It was as if the author of the book had Abraham in mind when he was choosing the title of the inspirational book. God had called Abraham out of his relatives to make him the father of many nations (see Genesis 12:1-3). God promised to bless him greatly and make his descendants numerous and great (see Genesis 15). However, he did not have children. He had even concluded in his mind that a servant would inherit all his possessions and the blessings of God! God assured him that a son coming out of his own body would be his heir (see Genesis 15:1-4). When God tarried in fulfilling this promise, Abraham and his wife tried to help God. They had a son through Hagar, a maidservant (see Genesis 16). Nonetheless, God insisted that the promised child would come through Sarah (see Genesis 17:15-16). Abraham saw this as a joke and suggested to God to be contented the good he (Abraham) helped God brought into being (see Genesis 17:17-18). He had settled for the good. Nevertheless, God was resolute to do the best for him (see Genesis 17:19).

On many occasions, we also settle for the good we have and pray that God should bless it while God is planning the best for us. A popular adage says, “God’s time is the best.” However, most of us prefer the good time we have or that we are thinking of to the best time of God. This should not be! We should learn how to wait for the best time and the best things of God for us. We should not settle for the good or the average, but the best.

What are you expecting from God? Does it seem it is getting too late? Are you trying to settle for the good you have now? The best of God came to reality in the lives of Abraham and Sarah when they least expected it (see Genesis 21:1-7). Your best will also come to reality in Jesus’ name. Amen. But, do not settle for the good!